Antioch spanks Acalanes, Deer Valley beats Granada, to start football season with a bang
Antioch’s Najee Harris, the top high school running back in America, breaks through the Acalanes defense. photo by Michael Pohl
By Luke Johnson
Both high schools from Antioch, Deer Valley and Antioch High, pulled out wins with double-digit deficits, last Friday night in their season openers for football. Antioch hosted Acalanes from Lafayette for a 62-7 clobbering, while Deer Valley traveled to Granada in Livermore for a 20-7 triumph.
Running backs Najee Harris and Nick Perry, and wide receiver Ryan Payne score two touchdowns each for Antioch. The number one running back in the country, Harris, had 187 rushing yards and 15 carries, and sat out for the final 16 minutes of regulation due to a 54-7 lead. His backup, Perry, who some consider the best second string running back in the Bay Area, complimented him well and rushed for 123 yards. Off just three carries, Payne was able to collect 83 yards on the ground.
Offensive coordinator Brett Dudley was most impressed with his o-line which features five new starters. He said during practice the team picked up the intensity by squirting a syrup bottle (filled with water) into the air every time a player executed a pancake block, and the players fed off of it.
The Panthers played locktight defense as well; only allowing 127 yards from the Dons’ offense, along with forcing five turnovers. This all happened during the opening of their $7-million stadium, where they sported new, modernized matte black jerseys; much different from Antioch’s traditional, classic look.
All that was on Deer Valley lineman and team captain Troy Decuir’s mind heading into the first game of the season was to get the W, and prove all the doubters wrong affixed off of last year’s lackluster season. He and the Wolverines turned at least some of them into believers with a solid performance against the Matadors of the East Bay Athletic League.
Deer Valley’s defense had three interceptions (Jalen Threatt, Adrian Dolo, Ronald Holmes) and a fumble recovered in the end zone by defensive tackle Antonio Johnson. Running back Rai-Shyan Alexander carried most of the load for the offense, rushing for 147 yards and two touchdowns through 15 attempts.
The Wolverines head into a bye week, but prepare for reigning Division-III State Champions Campolindo in week three at Moraga.
“We really have to strap it up, play a great game and channel or offense and defense to beat State Champions,” said Robert Hubbard, who just earned his first victory as a varsity head coach.
Antioch will also face tougher competition as the Panthers host Milpitas, who finished 12-1 last season, on Friday, Sept. 4.
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Antioch’s Najee Harris breaks through
